Which family do methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane belong to?

• A. Alkanes
• B. Alkenes
• C. Alcohols
• D. Ketones

Answer: (A)

These compounds are a family of saturated hydrocarbons called alkanes. They are made only of carbon and hydrogen with single bonds between carbon atoms, so they don’t have any double bonds or other functional groups. Their general formula is CnH2n+2, which fits methane (n=1) through pentane (n=5). Because there are no C=C bonds or oxygen-containing groups, they aren’t alkenes, alcohols, or ketones. Their simple, single-bond structure also explains why they’re relatively unreactive and mainly used as fuels.